Leadership in Business and Speech Pathology Practice

The ability to provide leadership and coaching is a necessary and powerful tool for business and indeed human development. It is true, that we learn from each other and from our past experiences. In business, as in life, if we approach our task and challenges with structure, aims and sound methodology we optimise our chances of success. In clinical practice this means establishing and providing a positive and rewarding working environment for clinicians and support staff and improving overall skill sets, thus enhancing the delivery of clinical services to our clients and families.

The ability to coach effectively is an important leadership skill. Coaching not only enhances business activity and productivity, it provides the professional with a positive learning environment and establishes and promotes self worth and professional pride in the workplace.

Dale Carnegie defines the 10 ways to be a leader. Although his focus was on sales, it is interesting to ponder and appreciate his suggestions:

1. Begin with praise and honest appreciation of effort and performance
2. Call attention to peoples mistakes indirectly
3. Talk about your own mistakes before highlighting those of others
4. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders
5. Let the person save face
6. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement
7. Give the other person a fine reputation to maintain and live up to
8. Make the fault possible to correct
9. Use encouragement and positive reinforcement of effort
10. Make the other person happy about doing the things you suggest

Although these guidelines are dated, they form a scaffold for which managers for years have built upon.
Interestingly, he assumes that the manager is always right in their problem solving and business decision making abilities.

A good leader listens. They listen to their colleagues for comment, both positive and negative.
They appreciate that their colleagues may have a different skill set and personal experience that they themselves may draw upon.

The overall principles of coaching and providing leadership are:

1. Encourage teamwork and co-operation in the workplace
2. Have everyone share their knowledge, skills and experience
3. Encourage colleagues to achieve new skills and build upon their current strengths
4. Bridge the gap between theory and clinical practice
5. Encourage colleagues to contribute and participate as active full members
6. Opens channels for two way interaction and communication
7. Clarify expectations, ideals and team goals
8. Encourages the concept of we….not I

Leadership through coaching is necessary when:

• Team member performance needs to be improved
• Pre-emptive action is required re: conflict resolution
• When set routine is changed
• To follow up on training or conference attendance
• To maintain the growth and development of the organisation
• To develop new and existing team member skills
• To build and consolidate confidence

As a manager it is important to clarify and focus on your own intervention skills.
Always take a step back and a deep breath when deciding if intervention is necessary.
It may not be necessary to intervene in a one off discipline incident. You should never provide counsel on personal problems and refrain from intervening on a non work related conflict.

Before intervention, the manager should ask themselves:

• Can you do the job or do you have the skills that you are coaching
• Acknowledge the abilities of both the team and the individual
• Acknowledge your own limitations
• Ensure that both parties agree on the need for change or improvement
• Stick to the facts
• Have a clear vision of the outcome of discipline or coaching action
• Give both positive and corrective feedback
• Maintain the individuals self esteem
• Know the individual`s skills, areas of challenge and what may be happening in other aspects of their life
• Be prepared and indeed ask for feedback on your own performance
• Have a definite time frame for feedback and re-evaluation of performance

Remember, managing and coaching takes time. You may need to delegate tasks to meet all the demands of a busy department, business or clinic. By encouraging other members of staff to take on responsibility to make decisions on coaching, self development and training, they are actually assisting in `managing` you. This develops the sense of community and is an ideal professional `state` to achieve.

Leadership skill clarifies and defines direction, standards and the organisation`s expectations.
It provides your colleagues with the opportunity of professional and financial support for skills development. It assists motivation and a positive work environment, which in turn improves overall productivity and clinical decision making.

Mr Craig Gorman
Speech Pathologist
Melbourne Speech Clinics